Vigil for victims of wrong-way driving accident in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Pieces of broken taillights lay among flowers along the busy road where Deandra Brigham was killed in a crash earlier this week. Family and friends gathered at the crash scene on East Livingston Avenue near South Hamilton Road Wednesday evening to mourn.

“It doesn't really make sense. I think we're still trying to understand it,” said Charissa Richardson, a close family friend.

“It's heartbreaking, it's devastating and it doesn't feel right and it doesn't feel fair,” said Tonisha Jordan, Deandra's cousin.

Deandra died early Monday morning when her car was hit head-on by a wrong-way driver.

The community's love for Deandra was evident at the vigil, as over 100 people gathered with balloons and candles.

“I don't know how a parent can recover from this. My daughter meant everything to me, man. They took away my right hand,” said Keato Lanier, Deandra's mother.

Lanier acknowledged that her priority now is to care for her nine-year-old grandson, Deandra's son.

“It's not fair, and it's not fair to my grandson. I have to make sure he continues to be loved,” Lanier said.

Jonniqua Lindsey, Deandra's best friend for over 20 years, said Deandra's son is her everything.

“She was so proud of him and everything he accomplished in his nine years of life,” Lindsey said.

The wrong-way driver, identified as 19-year-old Samuel Beyene, also did not survive the crash, nor did another passenger, 19-year-old Joel Beyene. A third passenger was taken to hospital in serious condition.

“I'm still angry about it, but knowing that two people from that side have now lost their lives, I can only feel sorry for the mother,” Lindsey said.

According to the accident report, the wrong-way driver was driving without headlights on at 75 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone. None of the people involved were wearing seat belts.

As family and friends pick up the pieces, they become painfully aware that such incidents can be avoided.

“Check your cars, check your lights, fasten your seatbelts,” Lindsey said.

“It's time to get serious about driving. Of course it should have been serious, but at this point it's getting seriously out of control,” Richardson said.

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